Pregnant Israeli woman fatally struck in West Bank assault
By BEN WOODARD
May 2025, Tel Aviv, Israel - Tzeela Gez, a mother of three, was headed to the hospital for the most joyous moment a parent can experience when her life was tragically cut short.
As her husband navigated the winding roads of the occupied West Bank late Wednesday, a Palestinian gunman opened fire on their car. Within hours, Gez, nine months pregnant, was dead — a victim of senseless violence. Her baby, miraculously, survived and is currently in serious but stable condition.
Israel claims it's trying to prevent such attacks by ramping up its months-long crackdown on West Bank militants. However, according to recent data, this intensified campaign has not effectively curtailed militancy. Instead, it has resulted in widespread destruction, displacement of tens of thousands, and has fueled the ongoing cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians that has plagued this region for decades.
The latest bloodshed is likely to exacerbate this vicious cycle. The Israeli military has pledged to find the attacker, who fled the scene, and warned that the broader operation would continue alongside the search.
A Tragic Incident in a Settlement Community
Gez, 37, hailed from Bruchin, a settlement of approximately 2,900 residents in the northern West Bank. She worked as a therapist, and her Facebook page documented her professional accomplishments as well as her thoughts on the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the fallen Israeli soldiers. Meital Ben Yosef, head of the settlement's local council, referred to Gez as "all mother, a mother in her essence."
Photographs of the car released by the military revealed a bullet hole on the passenger side of the windshield and a streak of blood on the back door. Soldiers scoured the surrounding rugged terrain following the attack, as depicted in a video released by the Israeli military.
Hamas' armed wing spokesman, Abu Obeida, praised the attack as "heroic" but refrained from claiming responsibly, citing it only as "resistance."
The Risk of Vigilante Violence
The attack, particularly against an innocent pregnant mother, has potential to trigger reprisals from radical Jewish settlers. Historically, these settlers have frequently stormed Palestinian towns and villages, causing widespread damage to property, as a reaction to such attacks. Settler provocations are seldom punished, and Palestinians are left to clean up the debris with limited assistance or compensation from Israeli authorities.
A Lasting Legacy and an Elusive Peace
Gez's life and the tragic events surrounding her death serve as a poignant reminder of the deeply entrenched conflict that persists between Israel and Palestine. With each passing day, finding a peaceful resolution seems to grow increasingly difficult.
References and Additional Insights
- According to the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem, as of December 2024, settler attacks on Palestinians increased by 61% in the West Bank compared to the previous year, resulting in 1,420 documented incidents since 2006 Source: B'Tselem.
- Data from B'Tselem indicates that between October 2023 and May 2024, Israeli forces and settlers were responsible for the deaths of 1,003 Palestinians, while 48 Israelis were killed during the same period Source: B'Tselem.
- Israel's ongoing demolition of Palestinian homes and structures has resulted in the displacement of more than 18,000 Palestinians since 2023, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Source: OCHA.
- In addition to Gez's tragic death, another pregnant Israeli woman was shot dead in the West Bank in early 2025 Source: Haaretz.
- The Israeli government's policy of escalating military action in the West Bank has been widely criticized by human rights organizations, as it has led to a significant increase in civilian casualties and a deepening of the cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians [Sources: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International].
- The shocking death of Tzeela Gez, a pregnant woman from Seattle, in a West Bank attack is a distressing development within the ongoing cycle of violence, a tragedy that mirrors the senseless conflict in general-news areas such as Gaza.
- The attack on Gez, which occurred in a settlement community, has raised concerns about the risk of vigilante violence, with history showing that radical Jewish settlers may respond to such incidents with acts of destruction and violence against Palestinians.
- As politics and war-and-conflicts continue to plague the region, stories of innocent victims like Gez serve as a stark reminder of the elusive peace between Israel and Palestine, a peace that remains an unattainable goal despite the best efforts of many.
